Setting apparatus for recording instrument



Jan. 23, 1968 H. SPORMANN 3,365,723

SETTING APPARATUS FOR RECORDING INSTRUMENT Filed Dec. 27, 1965 2Sheets-Sheet 1 Jan. 23, 1968 H. SPORMANN SETTING APPARATUS FOR RECORDINGINSTRUMENT Filed Deb. 27, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 III II III 'itates ateThe present invention relates to a setting apparatus for a recordinginstrument, and more particularly to an arrangement for preventingrelative movement between the diagram carrier of a recording instrumentand time indicating pointers provided in the instrument.

Recording instruments are known in which not only a diagram carrier,such as a record carrier tape or a circular diagram disc, but also timeindicating pointers are driven by a clock motor. The time indicatingpointers and the diagram carrier are driven in synchronism, and can besimultaneously set to any selected position. As a result, setting of thetime indicating pointers to the correct time, effects simultaneously thesetting of the diagram carrier to the same time.

Manually controlled setting means are provided for this purpose andinclude a gear cooperating with a gear of the gear train connecting thediagram carrier with the time indicating pointers. The respective gearof the gear train is neither the first, nor the last gear of the geartrain, so that during a setting operation in one or the other directionof rotation, play between the gears is produced so that after setting ofthe time indicating pointers and of the diagram carrier, a relativeangular displacement between the diagram carrier and the time indicatingpointers for the amount of the play occurs, and exact synchronismbetween the diagram carrier and the time indicating pointers during afollowing drive by the clock motor is no longer assured. When the clockmotor starts to rotate the diagram carrier and the time indicatingpointers, at first some of the gears of the gear train turn to eliminatethe play previously introduced by the setting operation, so that thediagram carrier and the time indicating pointers start movement in thesame direction of rotation under the action of the clock motor atdifferent moments and in angularly spaced positions.

In order to overcome this disadvantage, a small spring accumulator isprovided in the recording instruments of the prior art, which istensioned while the clock motor drives the instrument, and eliminatesthe play in one direction of rotation after a setting operation.

The known setting arrangements have the disadvantage that the springaccumulator is tensioned in the direction of rotation in which the clockmotor drives the instrument. If the instrument, and more particularlythe time indicating pointers are set in a direction opposite to thedirection of rotation in which the clock motor drives the timeindicating pointers and the diagram carrier, the setting operationreleases the spring accumulator so that the same cannot perform itsfunction after the setting of the instrument to a different time.

In order to overcome this disadvantage, the known setting apparatus isdesigned so that the setting takes place substantially only in onedirection of rotation, whereas setting in the opposite direction ofrotation is blocked, except for a very small angle. However, setting inonly one direction is extremely inconvenient in certain positions of thetime indicating pointers since it requires many turns of the minutepointer. For example, if the pointers indicate 12:10 hours, and are tobe set to :00 hours, the minute pointer must be turned almost tenrevolutions in the forward direction of rotation, whereas only a very3,355,723 Patented Jan. 23, 1958 inn small angle would be required forsetting in the opposite direction.

It is one object of the invention to overcome the disadvantages of knownsetting apparatus for recording instruments, and to provide a settingapparatus permitting the setting of a recording instrument in oppositedirections of rotation while maintaining the correct relative positionbetween the diagram carrier and time indicating means.

Another object of the invention is to provide a setting apparatus inwhich any play introduced by a setting operation is eliminated beforethe clock motor starts to turn the instrument after the settingoperation.

Another object of the invention is to connect the diagram carrier andthe time indicating means by an endless gear train including apretensioned torque accumulator which is pretensioned in a directionopposite to the direction of rotation in which the clockwork normallydrives the diagram carrier and the time indicating means.

With these objects in View, the present invention relates to a settingapparatus for a recording instrument, and more particularly to arecording instrument of the type having time indicating means, such asminute and hour hands, and diagram carrier means which may include arecord carrier and a support for the same.

In accordance with one embodiment of the invention, an endless geartrain connects a setting gear with the diagram carier means and the timeindicating means for rotation, and a clock motor drives the carriermeans and the time indicating means in one direction of rotation duringthe normal operation of the recording instrument. The endless gear trainincludes two gear train portions connecting the carrier means and thetime indicating with each other. One gear means of one of the gear,trainportions includes a torque accumulator pretensioned in a direction ofrotation opposite to the normal forward direction of rotation of thegear means during a recording operation of the instrument.

A setting means including a gear meshing with a gear means of the geartrain, preferably of the respective other gear train portion, isprovided for turning the diagram carrier means and the time indicatingmeans in opposite directions of rotation whereby play in forwarddirection is introduced into the gear train when the instrument is setin a direction opposite to the normal forward direction of rotation.

After such a setting operation, the pretensioned torque accumulatormoves the gear means of the endless gear train to a position eliminatingthe play in the same in the forward direction of rotation so that theclock motor then drives the diagram carrier means and the timeindicating means without relative angular displacement.

In the preferred embodiment of the invention, two coaxial gears areconnected by a pretensioned torsion spring constituting the torqueaccumulator and urging the two coaxial gears to turn in oppositedirections. One of the coaxial gears meshes with a time gear of the geartrain connected to the minute hand of the time indicating means.

Pairs of gears having the same diameter mesh with the time gear and witha carrier gear secured to the diagram carrier means.

The novel features which are considered as characteristic for theinvention are set forth in particular in the appended claims. Theinvention itself, however, both as to its construction and its method ofoperation, together with additional objects and advantages thereof, willbe best understood from the following description of specificembodiments when read in connection with the accompanying drawings, inwhich:

FIG. 1 is an elevation, partially in section, illustrating oneembodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a schematic, partly exploded plan view illustrating theembodiment of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 3 is a sectional view illustrating a spring torque accumulator usedin the embodiment of FIGS. 1 and 2.

A clock motor 3 including a housing and a gear ring 1 secured to thehousing, and a spiral spring, not shown, secured to the housing and to afixed core, is mounted between a pair of supporting walls 1 and 2. Gearring 4 meshes with a gear 5 connected with a pinion 6 and mounted withthe same on walls 1 and 2. Gear 6 meshes with a carrier gear including agear ring 7 and a hub portion 8 mounted on a shaft 9 for turningmovement.

Gear ring 7 meshes with a pinion 111 secured to another gear 11 which isoperatively connected with an escapement mechanism, not shown,controlling the uniform running of clock motor 3. Gears 10 and 11 arealso mounted on walls 1 and 2.

A dished friction spring 12 is secured to hub portion 8, and abuts acarrier gear 13 which is rotatable on shaft 9 and has a circular portion13 for supporting a diagram sheet provided with a central hole intowhich a stud 14 secured to diagram carrier means 13, 13' projects.Consequently, the diagram sheet rotates with carrier gear 13' when thesame is rotated by clock motor 3 in one direction of rotation indicatedby solid line arrows in FIG. 2. However, friction coupling 12, 13'permits relative angular movement between the carrier gear 13, and gearmeans 8, 7 driven by clock motor 3.

Two shafts 16 and 16' are mounted on walls 1 and 2, and respectivelycarry gear means 15, meshing with carrier gear means 13 and gears 17 and17'. Gears 15, 15', and gears 17, 17 have the same diameter and numberof teeth.

Gear 17 meshes with a setting gear 28 secured to a knurled knob 27 whichis manually operated to turn setting gear 28 in one or the otherdirection of rotation, as desired.

Gear 17 meshes with a gear 18 secured to a gear 19, the two gears havinga common hub mounted for free rotation on the shaft of the gear means 6,5. Gear 19 meshes with a pinion 20 secured to a shaft 21 carrying aminute hand, and gear 18 meshes with a gear 22 integral with the hollowshaft 23 carrying an hour hand. The time indicating means 21, 23 movethe pointers over a dial, not shown, so that the time is indicated.

Gear 17' meshes with a gear 18' which is mounted on a shaft for turningmovement, and is coaxial with another gear 19' mounted on the same shaftfor free turning movement. A torsion spring 24 has two bent end portionsrespectively projecting into axial bores of gears 18' and 19, as bestseen in FIG. 3. Spring 24 is pretensioned and urges gears 18' and 19' toturn in opposite directions relative to each other. Gear 18 meshes withgear 17', and gear 19 meshes with gear 20 in such relative angularposition that the spring torque accumulator 24 is pretensioned. Suchpretension is obtained by turning gears '18 and 19' in oppositedirections before placing gears 18' and 19' in meshing engagement withgears 17' and 20.

It will be seen that an endless gear train including carrier gear means13, gear means 15, 17, 18, 19 time gear means 20, gear means 19', 18'with torque accumulator 24, and gear means 17', 15' is provided forconnecting the carrier gear means 13' with the time gear means 20. Moreparticularly, the endless gear train includes a first gear train portion15', 17', 18, 24, 19, and a second gear train portion 15, 17, 18, 19,both gear train portions connecting the carrier gear means 13 with thetime gear means 20.

Torque accumulator 24 is provided in the first gear train portion, andsetting gear is connected to the second gear train portion.

The driving torque of clock motor 3 is transmitted over gears 4, 5, 6,7, 8 and. friction coupling 12 to carrier gear 13 and the diagram sheetsupport 13.

The driving torque is further transmitted over the two parallel geartrain portions to the time gear 219 of the time indicating means 23.Consequently, gear means 15, 17, 18, 19 rotate in synchronism with thegear means 15, 17, 18 and 19.

The normal direction of rotation in which the gear means are rotated byclock motor 3 is indicated by solid line arrows in FIG. 2.

Due to the pretension of spring 24, gear 19' is driven by gear 1-8, butonly to the extent permitted by the simultaneous drive of the time gear20 by gear means 15, 17, 18, 1?. Due to the drive of gear 18 by gear 17,and the meshing engagement between gear 19 with gear 20 the tension ofspring 24 is always maintained.

If the time indicating means 23, 21 are to be set in forward direction,the flanks of the gear teeth of the several gears remain in the sameposition as during the drive of the mechanism by clockwork 3 since thesetting gear 28 rotates all gears in the same forward directionindicated by solid line arrows, as the clockwork 3.

However, if the time indicating means 23, 21 are to be set in theopposite direction, and setting gear 23 turns all gears of the geartrain, and particularly time gear 20 in a direction of rotation oppositeto the normal direction of rotation of the gears when driven by theclock motor 3, as indicated by broken line arrows in FIG. 2, play isintroduced into the gear train while the flanks of the gear teeth whichperformed a driving function are now driven, and the driven gear flanksperform a driving function.

The gears turn relative to each other as far as permitted by theunavoidable play between the gears. In order to maintain exactsynchronism, and the correct angular position between time gear 20 andcarrier gear 13 during the following rotation under the control of clockmotor 3, the play must be eliminated before the clock motor 3 starts todrive the gear train after the setting operation. In other words, whenthe clock motor starts to drive the gear train, carrier gear means 13and time gear means 20 must start at exactly the same moment.

This is accomplished in accordance with the invention by the torsionspring 24 which is pretensioned in a direction of rotation opposite tothe normal direction of rotation produced by clock motor 3. Immediatelyafter the setting operation in the opposite direction of rotation,spring 24 turns gear 19' to eliminate the play between time gear 29 andgear 19, and also the play of the following gears, while gear 18 isturned to eliminate the play between gears 15 and 13'. As a result, thetooth flanks which engage each other during forward rotation, again abuteach other. When the clock motor starts the drive after the settingoperation, carrier gear 13 and time gear 20 start at exactly the sametime so that synchronism between the time indicating means 23, 21 andthe diagram carrier means 13, 14 is maintained.

This result is accomplished by the torque accumulator 24 since carriergear 13' and time gear 20 are elements of an endless gear train which isinterrupted only at one place by the torque accumulator 24.

It will be understood that each of the elements described above, or twoor more together, may also find a useful application in other types ofsetting apparatus for recording instruments differing from the typesdescribed above.

While the invention has been illustrated and described as embodied in asetting apparatus including an endless gear train connecting a diagramcarrier with the pointers of a time indicator, it is not intended to belimited to the details shown, since various modifications and structuralchanges may be made without departing in any way from the spirit of thepresent invention.

Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist ofthe present invention that others can by applying current knowledgereadily adapt it for various applications without omitting featuresthat, from the standpoint of prior art, fairly constitute essentialcharacteristics of the generic or specific aspects of this inventionand, therefore, such adaptations should and are intended to becomprehended within the meaning and range of equivalence of thefollowing claims.

What is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. Setting apparatus for a recording instrument, comprising, incombination, a clock motor, diagram carrier means; time indicatingmeans, one of said means being driven by said clock motor in onedirection of rotation; a setting gear; an endless gear train including aplurality of meshing gear means and connecting said setting gear, saiddiagram carrier means, and said time indicating means for rotation sothat said clock motor drives said gear means with said carrier means andsaid time indicating means in said one direction of rotation, and sothat said setting gear is adapted to turn said carrier means and saidtime indicating means in opposite directions of rotation, said endlessgear train including two gear train portions connecting said carriermeans and said time indicating means with each other, one gear means ofone of said gear train portions including a torque accumulatorpretensioned in a direction opposite to said one direction of rotationwhereby if play in said one direction of rotation is introduced intosaid gear train by setting of said time indicating means by said settinggear in a direction opposite to said one direction of rotation, saidgear means are turned by said torque accumulator to a positioneliminating the play in said gear train so that said motor then drivessaid carrier means and time indicating means without relative angulardisplacement in said one direction.

2. Setting apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said gear means aregears; wherein said one gear means includes two gears meshing with othergears of said gear train; and wherein said torque accumulator connectssaid two gears and is pretensioned to urge said two gears to turn inopposite directions.

3. Setting apparatus according to claim ll wherein said gear means aregears; wherein said one gear means includes two gears meshing with othergears of said gear train; and wherein said torque accumulator ispretensioned torsion spring secured to said two gears to urge said twogears to turn in opposite directions.

4. Setting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said gear trainincludes a carrier gear means secured to said carrier means and a timegear means secured to said time indicating means; wherein said motordrives said carrier gear means; and wherein said one gear means whichincludes said torque accumulator meshes with said time gear means.

5. Setting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said gear trainincludes a carrier gear means secured to said carrier means and a timegear means secured to said time indicating means; wherein said motordrives said carrier gear means; wherein said one gear means whichincludes said torque accumulator meshes with said time gear means; andwherein said setting gear meshes with a gear means of the other geartrain portion.

6. Setting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said gear trainincludes a carrier means secured to said carrier means and a time gearmeans secured to said time indicating means; and including a frictioncoupling and transmission means connecting said clock motor with saidcarrier gear means so that said carrier means is driven from said clockmotor.

7. Setting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said gear means aregears; and wherein said one gear means includes two coaxial gearsmeshing with other gears of said gear train; and wherein said torqueaccumulator is a spring means secured to said coaxial gears andpretensioned to urge the same to turn in opposite directions.

8. Setting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said gear means aregears; wherein said one gear means includes two coaxial gears meshingwith other gears of said gear train; wherein said torque accumulator isa spring means secured to said coaxial gears and pretensioned to urgethe same to turn in opposite directions; wherein said gear trainincludes a carrier gear secured to said carrier means and a time gearsecured to said time indicating; wherein said motor drives said carriergear; and wherein one of said coaxial gears meshes with said time gear.

9. Setting apparatus according to claim ll, wherein said gear means aregears; wherein said one gear means includes two coaxial gears meshingwith other gears of said gear train; wherein said torque accumulator isa spring means secured to said coaxial gears and pretensioned to urgethe same to turn in opposite directions; wherein said gear trainincludes a carrier gear secured to said carrier means and a time gearsecured to said time indicating means; wherein said motor drives saidcarrier gear; wherein one of said coaxial gears meshes with said timegear; and wherein said setting gear meshes with a gear of the other geartrain portion; and including a friction coupling connecting said motorwith said carrier gear.

10. Setting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said gear trainincludes a carrier gear means secured to said carrier means for rotationtherewith and a time gear means secured to said time indicating meansfor rotation therewith; wherein said one gear means includes two coaxialgears and a torque accumulator spring secured to the same and urging thesame to turn in opposite directions; wherein one of said coaxial gearsmeshes with said time gear means; wherein said one coaxial gear has thesame diameter as a gear means of the other gear train portion meshingwith said time gear means; wherein two gear means of said two gear trainportions, respectively, mesh with said carrier gear means and have thesame diameter, and wherein each remaining gear means of said one geartrain portion has the same diameter as a corresponding gear means of theother gear train portion.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 5/1954 Nichinson 74-409 10/ 1963Bertrang 34620

1. SETTING APPARATUS FOR A RECORDING INSTRUMENT, COMPRISING, INCOMBINATION, A CLOCK MOTOR, DIAGRAM CARRIER MEANS; TIME INDUCATINGMEANS, ONE OF SAID MEANS BEING DRIVEN BY SAID CLOCK MOTOR IN ONEDIRECTION OF ROTATION; A SETTING GEAR; AN ENDLESS GEAR TRAIN INCLUDING APLURALITY OF MESHING GEAR MEANS AND CONNECTING SAID SETTING GEAR, SAIDDIAGRAM CARRIER MEANS, AND SAID TIME INDICATING MEANS FOR ROTATION SOTHAT SAID CLOCK MOTOR DRIVES SAID GEAR MEANS WITH SAID CARRIER MEANS ANDSAID TIME INDICATING MEANS IN SAID ONE DIRECTION OF ROTATION, AND SOTHAT SAID SETTING GEAR IS ADAPTED TO TURN SAID CARRIER MEANS AND SAIDTIME INDICATING MEANS IN OPPOSITE DIRECTIONS OF ROTATION, SAID ENDLESSGEAR TRAIN INCLUDING TWO GEAR TRAIN PORTIONS CONNECTING SAID CARRIERMENS AND SAID TIME INDICATING MEANS WITH EACH OTHER, ONE GEAR MEANS OFONE OF SAID GEAR TRAIN PORTIONS INCLUDING A TORQUE ACCUMULATORPRETENSIONED IN A DIRECTION OPPOSITE TO SAID ONE DIRECTION OF ROTATIONWHEREBY IF PLAY IS SAID ONE DIRECTION OF ROTATION IS INTRODUCED INTOSAID GEAR TRAIN BY SETTING OF SAID TIME INDICATING MEANS BY SAID SETTINGGEAR IN A DIRECTION OPPOSITE TO SAID ONE DIRECTION OF ROTATION, SAIDGEAR MEANS ARE TURNED BY SAID TORQUE ACCUMULATOR TO A POSITIONELIMINATING THE PLAY IN SAID GEAR TRAIN SO THAT SAID MOTOR THEN DRIVESSAID CARRIER MEANS AND TIME INDICATING MEANS WITHOUT RELATIVE ANGULARDISPLACEMENT IN SAID ONE DIRECTION.